The long-standing debate over who has had the better career—Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi—continues to divide opinions. Their rivalry transcended individual brilliance, fuelling countless debates among fans over who deserved the title of the greatest of all time. The two veterans have engaged in numerous on-field clashes throughout their careers, most notably in fierce El Clasico battles for Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. Both players have been consistent contenders for the Ballon d'Or, with Messi claiming an impressive eight titles compared to Ronaldo's five. However, in a surprising poll conducted by The Athletic in 2023, 66 percent of former footballers sided with Ronaldo, believing he has had a superior career compared to Messi, who received 34 percent of the votes. Despite the poll favouring Ronaldo’s career, another question revealed a different perspective—when asked which player they would have preferred to play alongside, 72 percent of respondents chose Messi over Ronaldo (28 percent). Ronaldo declares himself the GOAT The debate remains heated, with Ronaldo himself weighing in during a recent interview with El Chiringuito to mark his 40th birthday. He boldly declared himself "the most complete player to have existed," citing his statistical achievements as proof. However, Messi’s former teammate and current Inter Miami coach, Javier Mascherano, responded with a measured take: "I have a lot of respect for Cristiano, but I do not feel the need to analyse his opinions. It’s what he thinks." With both legends now in the final chapters of their careers, the question of who is truly the greatest may never have a definitive answer. Source: YEN.com.gh